Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-08-26
AGRICULTURAL.


Experiments in Feeding Pigs.
The July bulletin Of the Amherst ngcicul-
tural experiment station contains a sum
mary Of the results of experiments in feed
ing pigs begun in 1884 and continued to the
present year. The pigs were fed with skim
milk, creamery buttermilk, corn meal,
wheat bran and gluten meal, the skim milk
being used with corn meal alone in one set
Of experiments, the buttermilk with the
same in another, bran, and bran with glu-
ten meal, in others.
Judging from our own experience, Prof.
Goessman says there remains but little
doubt that whenever the mere cost Of the
feed consumed is considered, the diet CON
ssting Of skim-milk and corn-meal alone,
rs described in connection with our second
feeding experiment, has been the cheaper
one. 1t is not less clearly proven, in con
ncction with the same series Of expert
ments, that the diet Of skm-mlk and corn
meal as carried out on that occasion has
furnished thus far the most efficient feed
for raising pigs for the home meat market;
for in every instance during four indepen-
dent feeding experiments has a smaller
quantity Of dry matter contained in that
diet suliiced to yield a given quantity Of
dressed pork, than in case of the other diets
which contained an addition of gluten meal
and wheat bran.
Although these two important circum
stances-lower market price and higher nu
tritive value-are in favor of the skim milk
and corn meal diet for pigs, its superior
claim Of good economy, as compared with
others used, cannot be considered as estab-
lished without due consideration of the
agricultural and commercial value of the
manurial refuse matter left behind in the
various experiments. Taking it for granted
that in raising the same kind of animals to
the same weights, practically the same
amount Of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potas
sa, etc, will be retained in the animal sys.
TEN, it follows that the excess of any one
of these constituents of one diet as com
pared with another one, must count in ia
vor of the higher commercial value of the
manurial residue of that particular diet
The subsequent statement of the present
market value of the essential fertilizing
constituents contained in the entire feed
used in the second feeding experiment
skim milk and corn NEAL, as well as those
contained in that consumed in the three
later feeding experiments (skim-milk, corn
meal, gluten meal and wheat BRAN, will
show the difference in both instances:
Expert Corn Skim Wheat Gluten Total
mentS meal milk. bran. meal
Ill " V. 7O7 1881 i75 G33 3l.iG
The difference in the commercial value of
the essential fertilizing elements contained
in the feed consumed in both instances, as
above specified, amounts to $500 in favor
of the three later feeding experiments.
Calculating this amount for an equal weight
of dressed pork produced in both cases, it
will be found that this difference amounts to
1913, or IS cents pound of dressed pork
sold.
The higher value of the manure obtained
in feeding some gluten meal and wheat bran
with skim-mlk and corn meal, instead of
skm-mik and corn meal alone, amounts to
30 cents more per pound of dressed pork
than the higher cost of the feed consumed
in that connection.
Elk. ILL., ". Y. EX
Cost of feed per 10. dr.. pork. 5.5lc. 5.92c.
Gain in higher value Of ma
nure per ID. dressed pork .16c
Actual cost Dir. pork, per Id. 5.5ic. bloc,
Thus the three later feeding experiments
proved more remunerative than the two
previous ones.
The money value of the essential fertiliz-
ing elements contained in the entire feed
IL e q,
produced varied in the experiments, as
shown above, from 1922 so to $29.10 Ad-
hitting a loss of one-third of that value in
consequence of the growth of the animals,
there remains within the reach of the far
mer value, in the manurial refuse obtain
ed, of from $15 to $195. This sum ought
to be credited to the profits it amounts to
from ID cents to 1.95 cents per pound of
the dressed pork produced. AS the dressed
pork was sold at from 81 to u cents per
pound from 10 to 3.5 cents per pound was
received for labor, housing, etc.
As to the increased cost of the feed re
quired for pound of gain after the pig has
reached the weight of $50 to 10 lbs, these
experiments all show the same results as
found by Prof. Sanborn. The cost of feed
consumed for a given quantity of dressed
pork increases materially with the advanc-
ing growth of the animal. The financial
success of feeding pigs for the home mar
ket depends in controlling degree upon a
timely closing up of the operation. To go
beyond 1850 to 115 pounds of live weight is
only in exceptional cases a remunerative
practice with our average prices of dressed
pork.